FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Job seekers interested in federal government employment have the opportunity to gain an edge in the hiring process by attending an upcoming Army Community Service workshop.

How can a workshop better equip job seekers?

"The answer lies in the 'Ten Step' method popularized by Kathryn Troutman, renowned expert on the federal hiring process," Mike Kozlowski, ACS employment readiness manager, said. "Troutman and her team teach this method to staff representing a wide variety of federal agencies, and her tips and techniques have the support of (Civilian Personnel Advisory Center) staffing specialists worldwide.

According to Kozlowski, by following her method job seekers will:

1. Be better able to understand the process by which hiring officials and staffing specialists go through to list and fill federal positions;

2. Be able to hunt jobs based on their specific experiences and qualifications;

3. Know the importance of including accomplishment statements on their federal résumés … and why doing so is critically important;

4. Be able to craft impactful USAJOBS.gov outline-based federal résumés, which bring out their KSAs -- knowledge, skills and abilities -- in a more effective way than before; and

5. Understand the import of the follow-up when tracking the progress of their application packets.

The workshop, open to active duty Soldiers, their spouses and family members, retirees, and current civil service and non-appropriated fund employees, takes place July 27 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Soldier Service Center, Bldg. 5700, Rm. 284.

Kozlowski said attendees need only bring a thirst for knowledge.

"There is nothing that workshop attendees need to bring to this workshop," he said. "All materials will be provided to them at the start of the workshop including pad folios, pens and a free copy of Kathryn Troutman's book 'Ten Steps to a Federal Job.'

"As a matter of fact, I encourage all participants not to bring their résumés," he added. "The information I'll be presenting will possibly be a 'paradigm shift' for them, i.e., the way they thought a federal résumé should look will, in many instances not be in a winning federal résumé format."

The workshop will help job seekers understand how the federal process compares to seeking employment in the private sector.

"The federal hiring process has several similarities to those found in the private sector," he said. "For example, one still must be able to conduct targeted job hunts in fields in which they have career suitability, based on work experiences, qualifications and credentialing.

"Both processes require the creation of résumés which effectively capture an individual's work experiences, qualifications and credentialing," he added. "Both processes require follow-up with their targeted employers.

However, Kozlowski continued, the federal job hunt has several distinctions from the traditional. "For example, you should not limit your search to positions found in the (Department of Defense)," he said. "There are several federal agencies and programs whose missions may be a better fit for your qualifications and credentials, many of which are not located at Fort Rucker.

The workshop will also give attendees tips on building a résumé for federal employment applications, which Kozlowski said differs from résumés for the private sector.

"The federal résumé is a different kind of cat," he said. "The format is more along the lines of a hybrid style, combining the traditional reverse chronological style with a functional format. It's also quite a bit longer than its private sector counterpart.

"Some federal résumés can be as long as 19 pages, although the optimum length should be limited to five to six pages," he added. "There are a host of other key differences I could cite and I plan to bring them out during the course of the workshop proper."

At the conclusion of the workshop, according to Kozlowski, participants should be able to better understand the federal hiring process.

"Following the 'Ten Step' method provides a framework for this understanding," he said. "Attendees at the last workshop have commented to me that they now understand the process as being more than routinely applying for a job on USAJOBS.gov; that there are so many items they have previously overlooked that they now incorporate into their federal job hunts."

Pre-registration is required due to space and materials limitations. The workshop is limited to the first 60 registrants. Deadline for registration is close of business July 25.